System, computer readable medium and method for multi-tiered data access

ABSTRACT

A system, computer readable medium, and method for multi-tiered data access. The method includes the steps of determining a first search parameter and a second search parameter in response to an operator initiated command, determining a physical location of a data unit corresponding to the first search parameter, identifying a data member corresponding to the second search parameter, and outputting the data member to an operator interface device.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

This disclosure relates generally to a system, computer readable medium,and method for multi-tiered data access.

2. Background Art

As the volume of stored data increases, conventional (i.e., singletiered) data systems become increasingly inefficient. Some conventionaldata systems attempt to address the inefficiencies by optimizing thesystem for either data storage or data retrieval. For example,conventional data systems may maintain a large index corresponding tothe stored data. Such indexing may provide improved data retrievalspeeds but generally decreases the speed of data loading (i.e., theaddition of new data, data storage) and consumes system resources.Conversely, conventional data systems using minimal data indexinggenerally provide improved data loading speeds but decreased dataretrieval speeds. Such data retrieval/data loading tradeoffs may beproblematic in systems where real time applications, such as InternetWEB applications, require the ability to rapidly retrieve data whilesystem data is being updated and/or loaded.

In addition, data corruption in conventional data systems may propagaterapidly, causing data loss and requiring reinstallation of a largequantity of data from a backup. The reinstallation process may furthersubject the system to an additional risk of data loss.

Conventional data systems may also require extensive modification to addadditional forms of data, especially forms of data having a format thatdiffers from the data formats previously stored by the data system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure, both as to its organization and manner ofoperation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may bebest understood with reference to the following description, taken inconnection with the accompanied drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for multi-tiered data accessaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method for multi-tiered data accessaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure generally provides a system, method and computerreadable medium for multi-tiered data access. One embodiment of thepresent disclosure may provide increased data storage and/or dataretrieval rates. Another embodiment may impede data corruptionpropagation such that data loss and/or reinstallation of data from abackup may be reduced. Another embodiment may provide increased dataretrieval rates while reducing the data storage requirement of a system.Yet another embodiment may provide increased data storage and/orretrieval efficiency in multi-processor machines. Still yet anotherembodiment may reduce the amount of modification required to addadditional forms of data to the system. It should be understood thatother embodiments of the disclosure may provide yet additional and/oralternative benefits.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, then, acomputer-readable medium storing a program executable by a processor formulti-tiered data access is provided. The medium comprises a logicalmapping code segment and a physical mapping code segment. The logicalmapping code segment determines a first search parameter and a secondsearch parameter corresponding to an operator initiated command. Thephysical mapping code segment receives the first and second searchparameters, determines a physical location of a data unit correspondingto the first search parameter, identifies a data member corresponding tothe second search parameter, and outputs the data member to an operator.

According to another embodiment, a system is provided for multi-tiereddata access. The system comprises a logical mapping apparatus and aphysical mapping apparatus. The logical mapping apparatus determines afirst search parameter and a second search parameter corresponding to anoperator initiated command. The physical mapping apparatus receives thefirst and second search parameters, determines a physical location of adata unit corresponding to the first search parameter, identifies a datamember corresponding to the second search parameter, and outputs thedata member to an operator.

According to yet another embodiment, a method is provided formulti-tiered data access. The method comprises the steps of determininga first search parameter and a second search parameter in response to anoperator initiated command, determining a physical location of a dataunit corresponding to the first search parameter, identifying a datamember corresponding to the second search parameter, and outputting thedata member to an operator interface device.

It is to be understood that the previous and subsequently disclosedembodiments are merely exemplary. The figures are not necessarily toscale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show detailsof particular components. Therefore, specific functional detailsdisclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as arepresentative basis for the claims and/or as a representative basis forteaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the presentdisclosure. In the figures and in the discussion that follows, likereference numbers indicate like elements.

Referring to FIG. 1, a system 100 for multi-tiered data access accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The system 100 maycomprise an operator interface (i.e., operator interface device) 102, alogical mapping apparatus 104, a physical mapping apparatus 106 and aphysical data storage device 108.

The operator interface 102 may be any appropriate interface device, suchas a keyboard, a touchscreen, a mouse, a display, a voice recognitiondevice, a light pen, a speaker and the like, for electronically couplingto the logical mapping apparatus 104, transmitting an operator initiatedcommand (i.e., operator command) (e.g., a data request) to the logicalmapping apparatus 104 and/or conveying information (e.g., data) to anoperator.

The logical mapping apparatus 104 may be electronically coupled to theoperator interface 102 for receiving the operator command. In at leastone embodiment, the logical mapping apparatus 104 may be a computer orother logical device, such as an Application Specific IntegratedCircuit, which executes software application programs and/or whichperforms other logical exercises. However, the logical mapping apparatus104 may include any type of unit or entity which can determine one ormore search parameters (e.g., first search parameter, second searchparameter, etc.) corresponding to the operator command.

In one embodiment, the logical mapping apparatus 104 may use a table 130for determining a search parameter corresponding to the operatorcommand. Furthermore, in at least one embodiment, the table 130 mayreside in a memory 120, such as a solid state memory, a read-onlymemory, a random access memory, an EPROM, an EEPROM and the like, and/ora database 124 electronically coupled to the logical mapping apparatus104. Optionally, the logical mapping apparatus 104 may use a hashfunction (not shown) for determining a search parameter. However, thelogical mapping apparatus 104 may use any appropriate algorithm and/orlook-up device to determine the one or more search parameterscorresponding to the operator command.

The logical mapping apparatus 104 is generally electronically coupled tothe physical mapping apparatus 106 and presents the one or more searchparameters to the physical mapping apparatus 106.

The physical mapping apparatus 106 may be electronically coupled to oneor more physical data storage devices 108, such as a magnetic media, anoptical media, a hard drive, a memory device, and/or the like. Each ofthe data storage devices 108 may comprise one or more physical and/orlogical data units 150, such as a file, a table, and the like. Each dataunit 150 generally corresponds to a set of related data (i.e., a dataset), such as data corresponding to a business group, a network, adevice, and the like.

Similarly, each data unit 150 may comprise one or more data members 160.Each data member 160 generally corresponds to a related sub-set of thedata unit 150, such as data corresponding to an individual departmentwithin a business group, an individual network device, an individualdevice user, and the like. In at least one embodiment, a data member 160may represent the smallest sub-set of data that may be retrieved inresponse to the operator command. However, implementation havingadditional levels (i.e., tiers) is contemplated within the spirit andscope of the present invention. Accordingly, additional sub-groupings(not shown) of data within a data member 160 are contemplated by thepresent disclosure.

The physical mapping apparatus 106 is generally a computer or otherlogical device, such as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit,which executes software application programs and/or which performs otherlogical exercises. In at least one embodiment, the functionality of thephysical mapping apparatus 106 may be implemented in the same device asthe logical mapping apparatus 104.

In particular, the physical mapping apparatus 106 generally receives theone or more search parameters from the logical mapping apparatus 104 anddetermines a physical location of a data unit 150 corresponding to afirst search parameter. In at least one embodiment, the first searchparameter may represent (i.e., correspond to) a device such as anAsymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, an Asynchronous Transfer ModeSwitch, a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer, etc. and thecorresponding data unit 150 may include data relating to the physicaldevice.

In general, the physical location may be any appropriate address (i.e.,location) on any appropriate storage device 108, such as a location on amagnetic media, a location on an optical media, a location on a harddrive, a memory address, and the like. In at least one embodiment, thefirst search parameter may resolve (i.e., map) directly into the addressof the data unit 150. For example, the first parameter may form all orpart of a file name that resolves into the address of a data unit 150stored on a storage device 108 via a file directory. Similarly, inanother embodiment, the first parameter may form all or part of the nameof a table stored in memory.

The physical mapping apparatus may also identify a data member 160(i.e., a data member 160 of the data unit 150 corresponding to the firstsearch parameter) corresponding to the second search parameter. In oneembodiment, the second search parameter may represent (i.e., correspondto) a port on a device such as an Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, anAsynchronous Transfer Mode Switch, a Digital Subscriber Line AccessMultiplexer, etc. and the corresponding data member 160 may include datarelating to an object coupled to the port. In addition, at least oneembodiment may include one or more data member 160 stored in acompressed state (i.e., compressed data object) and/or as a Binary LargeObject (i.e., BLOG).

The physical mapping apparatus 106 may output the data member 160 to theoperator. In at least one embodiment, the physical mapping apparatus 106may output the data member 160 to the operator using the operatorinterface 102.

Referring to FIG. 2, a flow diagram of a method 200 for multi-tiereddata access according to an embodiment of the present disclosure isshown. The method 200 may be advantageously implemented in connectionwith any appropriate system to meet the design criteria of a particularapplication, such as the system 100 described previously in connectionwith FIG. 1. In particular all or parts of the method 200 may beperformed by one or more logical devices, such as the logical mappingapparatus 104 and/or the physical mapping apparatus 106. The method 200generally includes a plurality of blocks or steps that may be performedserially. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art,the order of the block/steps shown in FIG. 2 is exemplary and the orderof one or more block/steps may be modified within the spirit and scopeof the present disclosure. In addition, the blocks/steps of the method200 may be performed in at least one non-serial (or non-sequential)order, and one or more blocks/steps may be omitted to meet the designcriteria of a particular application. Similarly, two or more of theblocks/steps of the method 200 may be performed in parallel. Block 202represents an entry point into the method 200.

Decision block 204 generally determines when a new data unit (e.g., dataunit 150) is required. In general, the addition of a new data unit isrequired to expand the system (e.g., the system 100) to include data notrepresented by an existing data unit. For example, in one embodiment,each data unit may correspond to an element of a network (not shown).When a new device (i.e., element) is added to the network, a new dataunit is generally required to represent data associated with the newdevice. The method 200 generally proceeds to step 206 when a new dataunit is required (i.e., the YES leg of decision block 204). Otherwise,the method 200 may fall through to step 212 (i.e. the NO leg of decisionblock 204).

At step 206, a new data unit may be generated.

At step 208, a unique identifier may be generated. In at least oneembodiment, such as the exemplary embodiment described in connectionwith decision block 204, the unique identifier may correspond to thename of a new device.

At step 210, the unique identifier may be mapped to the new data unit.From step 210, the method 200 may return to decision block 204.

Decision block 212 generally determines when an operator initiatedcommand (i.e., operator command) has been received. The method 200 mayproceed to step 214 when an operator command is received (i.e., the YESleg of decision block 212). Otherwise, the method 200 generally returnto decision block 204 (i.e. the NO leg of decision block 212).

At step 214, a first search parameter may be determined based at leastin part on the operator initiated command.

At step 216, a second search parameter may be determined based at leastin part on the operator initiated command.

At step 218, a physical location of a data unit corresponding to thefirst search parameter may be determined.

At step 220, a data member (e.g., data member 160) corresponding to thesecond search parameter may be identified. In general, the data membercorresponds to a sub-set of data within a corresponding data unit (e.g.,data unit 150).

At step 222, the data member may be outputted to any appropriate devicesuch as an operator interface device (e.g., 102). From step 222, themethod 200 may return to decision block 204.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure is illustrated. The exemplary embodiment of FIG.3 is provided to further instruct one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood thatthe exemplary embodiment is non-limiting and many other embodimentswithin the spirit and scope of the present disclosure are contemplatedby the present disclosure. The exemplary embodiment is generallyprovided in the context of a Digital Subscriber Line (i.e., DSL) system300. The system 300 may be implemented similarly to the system 100 ofFIG. 1 and may implement one or more steps of the method 200 previouslydescribed in connection with FIG. 2.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, the DSL system (i.e., network)300 is illustrated as having ten thousand DSL Access Multiplexers (i.e.,DSLAMs) with each DSLAM coupling four hundred DSL subscribers (i.e.,users) to the DSL system 300 via four hundred corresponding ports. Thesystem 300 is further illustrated as storing three thousand data points(i.e., data values) for each subscriber. While particular quantities ofDSLAMs, subscribers, ports, and data points are provided for clarity, itshould be understood that the system 300 may be implemented using anyappropriate number of DSLAMs coupled to any appropriate number ofsubscribers via any appropriate number of ports and recording anyappropriate number of data points to satisfy the requirements of aparticular application.

When a user (i.e., subscriber) seeks technical support, the usergenerally provides a technical support person (i.e., system operator)with a user identifier, such as a DSL telephone number corresponding tothe user. For purposes of illustration, the user identifier may be555-555-0002. The system operator may then generate an operator command(i.e., signal, operator initiated command, etc.) corresponding to theuser identifier via the operator interface 102. The operator command isgenerally presented by the operator interface 102 to the logical mappingapparatus 104.

The logical mapping apparatus 104 may receive the operator command andmay determine a first search parameter and a second search parametercorresponding to the operator command. In the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 3, the logical mapping apparatus 104 may determine the first andsecond search parameters using a table 130 in electronic communicationwith the logical mapping apparatus 104. However, as previously discussedin connection with the system 100, the search parameters may bedetermined using any appropriate process (e.g., an algorithm, a hashfunction, a database, an index file, etc.) to meet the design criteriaof a particular application. By referencing the user identifier (i.e.,555-555-0002) to the table 130, the first search parameter may bedetermined by the logical mapping apparatus 104 to correspond to theswitch (e.g., DSLAM2) coupling the user to the DSL system 300.Similarly, the second search parameter may be determined by the logicalmapping apparatus 104 to correspond to the port coupling the user to theswitch (e.g., port 3). The logical mapping apparatus may then presentthe first and second search parameters to the physical mapping apparatus106.

Optionally, the logical mapping apparatus 104 may further generate a newdata unit 150, generate a unique identifier for the new data unit (i.e.,previously unidentified data unit) 150, and/or map the unique identifierto the new data unit 150 in response to a new DSLAM being added to thesystem 300.

The physical mapping apparatus 106 generally receives the first andsecond search parameters (e.g., DSLAM2 and port 3) and determines aphysical location of a data unit 150 corresponding to the first searchparameter. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, the physical mappingapparatus 106 locates a table corresponding to the first searchparameter on the physical device 108 using any appropriate mappingtechnique such as a file directory. As illustrated in the exemplaryembodiment, system efficiency may be increased by implementing dataunits 150 having names (i.e., identifiers) that utilize all or part ofthe first search parameter (e.g., first search parameter=“DSLAM2” andthe data unit name=“USER_DSLAM2”). That is, implementing data units 150having names that utilize all or part of the first search parameter mayprovide for the physical location of the data unit 150 to be determinedwith reduced mapping and/or search steps (i.e, functions).

The physical mapping apparatus 106 may also identify a data member 160from the data stored within the data unit 150 based at least in part onthe second search parameter. In the exemplary embodiment, the physicalmapping apparatus 106 may identify the member 160 corresponding to port3. The data member 160 (i.e., user data values in the row correspondingto port 3) may be output (i.e., transmitted) to the system operator. Insuch a manner, the system operator may retrieve the user datacorresponding to the subscriber. In at least one embodiment, the userparameters (e.g., user data 1, user data 2, etc.) for each port may bestored in a compressed state and/or as a Binary Large Object (BLOB) toincrease efficiency and/or reduce data storage requirements.

In the exemplary two-tiered data system 300 of FIG. 3, a system operatormay retrieve data corresponding to a subscriber from among12,000,000,000 (i.e., 10,000*400*3000) potential data points. At thelogical mapping apparatus 104, the system operator performs a search often thousand records corresponding to the total number of DSLAMs in thesystem 300. At the physical mapping apparatus 106, the system operatorperforms a search of four hundred records corresponding to the number ofports on a DSLAM. Accordingly, the exemplary system 300 may provideincreased data retrieval rates, as compared with a conventional datastorage system requiring a search of the entire 12,000,000,000 datapoints, by implementing two or more searches on sub-sets of the12,000,000,000 data points.

Furthermore, grouping data points into data units 150 may provide forupdating of a first data unit 150 with little or no affect on a searchbeing performed on a second data unit 150 and vice versa, may impededata corruption propagation, may provide increased data storage and/orretrieval efficiency in multi-processor machines, and/or may reduce theamount of modification required to add additional forms of data to thesystem. Similarly, compressing data points within a data unit 150 mayreduce the data storage requirement of the system 300.

While the forgoing disclosure and Figures generally disclose atwo-tiered data system, it should be understood that additional tiersmay be implemented within the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system 400 within which a set of instructions, when executed,may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein. In some embodiments, the machine operates as astandalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may be connected(e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networked deployment,the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client usermachine in server-client user network environment, or as a peer machinein a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine maycomprise a server computer, a client user computer, a personal computer(PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant(PDA), a cellular telephone, a mobile device, a palmtop computer, alaptop computer, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant, acommunications device, a wireless telephone, a land-line telephone, acontrol system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a printer, apager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance, a network router,switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set ofinstructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be takenby that machine. It will be understood that a device of the presentinvention includes broadly any electronic device that provides voice,video or data communication. Further, while a single machine isillustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include anycollection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (ormultiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein.

The computer system 400 may include a processor 402 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both), amain memory 404 and a static memory 406, which communicate with eachother via a bus 408. The computer system 400 may further include a videodisplay unit 410 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, asolid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system400 may include an input device 412 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor controldevice 414 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 416, a signal generationdevice 418 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interfacedevice 420.

The disk drive unit 416 may include a machine-readable medium 422 onwhich is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 424)embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein, including those methods illustrated in herein above. Theinstructions 424 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 404, the static memory 406, and/or within theprocessor 402 during execution thereof by the computer system 400. Themain memory 404 and the processor 402 also may constitutemachine-readable media. Dedicated hardware implementations including,but not limited to, application specific integrated circuits,programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can likewise beconstructed to implement the methods described herein. Applications thatmay include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments broadlyinclude a variety of electronic and computer systems. Some embodimentsimplement functions in two or more specific interconnected hardwaremodules or devices with related control and data signals communicatedbetween and through the modules, or as portions of anapplication-specific integrated circuit. Thus, the example system isapplicable to software, firmware, and hardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, themethods described herein are intended for operation as software programsrunning on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementationscan include, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

The present invention contemplates a machine readable medium containinginstructions 424, or that which receives and executes instructions 424from a propagated signal so that a device connected to a networkenvironment 426 can send or receive voice, video or data, and tocommunicate over the network 426 using the instructions 424. Theinstructions 424 may further be transmitted or received over a network426 via the network interface device 420.

While the machine-readable medium 422 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should betaken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralizedor distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) thatstore the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by themachine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present invention. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to:solid-state memories such as a memory card or other package that housesone or more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories,or other re-writable (volatile) memories; magneto-optical or opticalmedium such as a disk or tape; and carrier wave signals such as a signalembodying computer instructions in a transmission medium; and/or adigital file attachment to e-mail or other self-contained informationarchive or set of archives is considered a distribution mediumequivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the invention isconsidered to include any one or more of a machine-readable medium or adistribution medium, as listed herein and including art-recognizedequivalents and successor media, in which the software implementationsherein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the invention is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodicallysuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocolshaving the same functions are considered equivalents.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. Figures are merely representational andmay not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merelyfor convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope ofthis application to any single invention or inventive concept if morethan one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments havebeen illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.§1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quicklyascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted withthe understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit thescope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it can be seen that various features are grouped togetherin a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the claimed embodiments require more features than areexpressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claimsreflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of asingle disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are herebyincorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing onits own as a separate embodiment.

While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described,it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe allpossible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in thespecification are words of description rather than limitation, and it isunderstood that various changes may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

1. A method for multi-tiered data access comprising: receiving anoperator command having an identifier corresponding to a unique pair offirst and second search parameters; determining the first searchparameter and the second search parameter using the identifier inresponse to the operator command; determining a physical location instorage of a data unit corresponding to the first search parameter,wherein the storage includes a plurality of data units respectivelycorresponding to a plurality of different first search parameters witheach data unit respectively having a physical location in the storage,wherein each data unit has a plurality of data members respectivelycorresponding to a plurality of different second search parameters witheach of the second search parameters respectively corresponding to adata member of each data unit; identifying the data member correspondingto the second search parameter of the data unit which corresponds to thefirst search parameter; and outputting the data member to an operator.2. The method of claim 1 wherein: determining the first search parameterand the second search parameter using the identifier includes using ahash function.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein: determining the firstsearch parameter and the second search parameter using the identifierincludes using a table.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein: the datamember is at least one of a Binary Large Object and a compressed dataobject.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein: each of the first searchparameters respectively corresponds to at least one of an AsymmetricDigital Subscriber Line, an Asynchronous Transfer Mode Switch, and aDigital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer.
 6. The method of claim 5wherein: each of the second search parameters respectively correspondsto a port on the at least one of an Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line,an Asynchronous Transfer Mode Switch, and a Digital Subscriber LineAccess Multiplexer.
 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:generating a unique identifier and mapping the unique element identifierto a previously unidentified data unit.
 8. The method of claim 1wherein: the physical location corresponds to at least one of a locationon a magnetic media, a location on an optical media, a location on ahard drive, and a memory address.
 9. A system for multi-tiered dataaccess, the system comprising: a storage having a plurality of dataunits respectively corresponding to a plurality of different firstsearch parameters with each data unit respectively having a physicallocation in the storage, wherein each data unit has a plurality of datamembers respectively corresponding to a plurality of different secondsearch parameters with each of the second search parameters respectivelycorresponding to a data member of each data unit; a logical mappingapparatus for receiving an operator command having an identifiercorresponding to a unique pair of first and second search parameters andfor determining the first search parameter and the second searchparameter using the identifier of operator command; and a physicalmapping apparatus for receiving the first search parameter and thesecond search parameter from the logical mapping apparatus, determininga physical location in the storage of a data unit corresponding to thefirst search parameter, identifying the data member; corresponding tothe second search parameter of the data unit which corresponds to thefirst search parameter, and outputting the data member to an operator.10. The system of claim 9 wherein the logical mapping apparatus uses ahash function for determining at least one of the first search parameterand the second search parameter.
 11. The system of claim 9 wherein thelogical mapping apparatus uses a table for determining at least one ofthe first search parameter and the second search parameter.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11 wherein the logical mapping apparatus is inelectronic communication with a database and the database comprises thetable.
 13. The system of claim 11 wherein the table is stored in amemory electronically, coupled to the logical mapping apparatus.
 14. Thesystem of claim 9 wherein the data member is a Binary Large Object. 15.The system of claim 9 wherein the data member is a compressed dataobject.
 16. The system of claim 9 wherein the first search parametercorresponds to at least one of an Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, anAsynchronous Transfer Mode Switch, and a Digital Subscriber Line AccessMultiplexer.
 17. The system of claim 16 wherein the second searchparameter corresponds to a port on the at least one of an AsymmetricDigital Subscriber Line, an Asynchronous Transfer Mode Switch, and aDigital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer.
 18. The system of claim 9wherein the logical mapping apparatus further generates a uniqueidentifier and maps the unique identifier to a previously unidentifieddata unit.
 19. A method for multi-tiered data access for use with adigital subscriber line (DSL) system, the method comprising: receivingan operator command having a telephone number corresponding to a uniquepair of first and second search parameters, wherein the first searchparameter corresponds to at least one of an Asymmetric DigitalSubscriber Line (ADSL), an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) Switch, anda DSL Access Multiplexer (DSLAM), wherein the second search parametercorresponds to a port on the least one of an ADSL, an ATM Switch, and aDSLAM; determining the first search parameter and the second searchparameter using the identifier in response to the operator command;determining a physical location in storage of a data unit correspondingto the first search parameter, wherein the storage includes a pluralityof data units respectively corresponding to a plurality of differentfirst search parameters with each data unit respectively having aphysical location in the storage, wherein each data unit has a pluralityof data members respectively corresponding to a plurality of differentsecond search parameters with each of the second search parametersrespectively corresponding to a data member of each data unit;identifying the data member corresponding to the second search parameterof the data unit which corresponds to the first search parameter; andoutputting the data member to an operator interface device.
 20. Themethod of claim 19 wherein: each of the first search parameters resolvesdirectly into the physical location of the corresponding data unit.